Diaphragm.



vT. M. WILKINS.

DIAPHRAGM.

APPLIOATION FILED MAY 5, 1911.

71,057,196. Patented Mar.25,1913.

UNrrED sTArEs PATENT. onirica.

THOMAS M. WILKrNs, or EAsT RANDOLPH', NEW-YORK, AssrGNon 'ro wrLmNs VALVE COMPANY, or SALAMANCA, New YORK, A CORPORATION or' NEW Yom DIAPHRAGM.

l Specification o f Letters Patent'.

` Application ined Mayr, 1911. serial No. 625,353.

. vented anew and useful Improvements in vDiaphragms, of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying draw#v ings, is a speciication.

The invention relates to diaphragms for regulating valves,l dampers, barometers and such other lvinstruments or devices as re'- quire a sensitive diaphragm; and the ob' -ject of my improvement is to provide la tubular diaphragm whichmay be used either` vwith outer or inner pressurewhich is eX- ceedingly sensitive and of a cheap and du-` rable construction, and the invention consists in the construction and arrangement of the parts asdescribed -in this specification and shown inthe accompanying drawings,

and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a lengthwise sectional view of the diaphragm showingl` 'the means of adjusting and giving tension to the same. Fig. 2 is a crosswise sectional view at lineX X in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the diaphragm with the middle portion broken` away showing the inner and :outer coil springs :and the. lrubber tubing therebetween. Fig 4 1s a perspective view of aV portion-of the rubber tubing. Fig. 5 is a-sectional view at line Y Y in Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a lengthwise sectional view of the upper portion of a modication of the diaphragm showing a plurality of thicknesses of rubber tubing; and Fig. 7 shows a sectional crosswise viewI 'of the same. Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the lower supporting piece for the diaphragm.

Like numerals of reference refer to corresponding parts in the several views.

The numeral 10 designates the upper casting or supporting plu for the vdiaphragm and the numeral 11 designates the lower supporting plug or casting for the diaphragm. The plug 10 is cylindrical, arod 12I asses through the plug 10, the opening in' t e plug 10 being larger than the rod 12 to allow the free passage of the rod. The rod 12 screws into the lower plug 11. The upper plug 10 is supported in a plate 13 to which is attached the lower plate 14 of a valve casing, or the casing for a similar device which it is desired to regulate, the rod l2 passing upinto said casing. The lower plug 11 is supported on an adjusting screw 15- which passes through a yoke 16. The plate 13 and yoke 16 are connected by a plurality of coil springs 17 to adjust the tension or load of the diaphragm.

The diaphragm consists of a tube 18 of one or more thicknesses of-elastic or resilii ent impervious material, preferably rubber, withl supporting coi/l springs 19 and 20 on the outer Iand inner sides of the tube 18. The

tube 18 is placed over theinner coil spring 19 and the outer coil spring y20 is sli ped over the outer side of tube 18. The en s 22 of spring 20are fastened in holes in blocks 10 and 11 to firmly attach the ends of said spring to said blocks to prevent the escape of the tubular diaphragm 18 under vheavy pressures. The coil springs 19 and 20 are coiled close together to support the elastic 'tube'18 under heavy pressure. The vinside pressure spreads the coils of the springs 19 and 20 vand for outside pressure the springs 19 and 20 are held a spaced Idistance apart bythe tension on rod 12 'so-that pressure from without can close the coils. v y The tube 18 and 'springs 19and"20 `are preferably attachedupon `annular steps on the tube plugs 10 and 11. For interior pressure the pressuretluid enters through `the opening around rod 12in plug 10. For exterior pressure the 'diaphragm would be inclosed in'a suitable receptacle. tThe inside pressure extends the tension springs 17, which springs are proportioned to the' load. It is Patented Mar. 25,1913.

apparent that the tension of the springs 17 tubing, drawing one tube over the other, as

shown in` Figs. 6 and 7. Three thicknesses of elastic tubing are preferred so that the central layer is protected from contact with the interior or exterior luids,thereby retaining its elasticity for a much greater length of time. The supporting springs 19 and 20 are placed on the outer and inner sides o the pluralit of thicknesses of tubing, the same as wit a single thickness.

'interior pressure.

l It is apparent that my resilient tubular diaphragm can be constructed to elongate or contract any desired distance by lengthening or shorteninfr, the same and by the elasticity of the tubing -18 and springs 19 and' 20. The pressure fluid may be confined cu-V 2. A device of the class described,'cvom prising a tubular diaphragm having a single opening to the interior thereof, the side Walls of said tubular diaphragm elastic, and .confining means for the exterior of said diaphragm permitting endvvise elongation of said diaphragm from interior pressure.

3. A device of the' class described, com prising an elastic tubular diaphragm, one end of said diaphragm closed and the other endhaving an opening therein, means in said opening for admitting Huid under preso sure to the interior of said diaphragm, and

. confining means for the exterior of said diation of said diaphragm.

p'hragm permitting endwi'se elongation of said diaphragm from interior pressure.

4. A device of the class described, comprising an elastic tubular diaphragm, one end of said diaphragm closed and the other end having an opening for admission to the 'interior thereof, confining means for the exterior of said diaphragm permitting end` Wise elongation of said diaphragm from interior pressure, and spring pressure exterior ot said diaphragm to control said elonga- 5. A device of theclass described comprising an elastic diaphragm, and means exterior of said diaphragm for giving a tension thereto. v 6. A device of the class described comprising an elastic diaphragm, a plurality of springs Without said diaphragm for giving a tension to said diaphragm, and means for holding said springs.

7. A device of the' character described comprising an impervious diaphragm having elastic walls and a supporting spring adjacent one or both sides of said diaphragm Walls.

8. A device of the class described comprising an elastic tubular diaphragm, and resilient means for supporting the side of said elastic tubular diaphragm.

9. A device of the class described comprising an elastic tubular diaphragm, and a spiral elastic support for the side of the Said elastic tubular diaphragm.

10. A device of the class described comprising an elastic tubular diaphragm, resilient means for holding said elastic tubular diaphragm, and means for giving a tension to said elastic tubular diaphragm and said resilient holding means.

11. A device of the class described comprising an elastic tubular diaphragm, supporting plugs for each end of said tubular diaphragm, and an elastic means for supporting said tubular diaphragm.

12. A device of the character described ycomprising an elastic tubular diaphragm,

elastic supporting means for the inner and outer sides of said diaphragm, and'a suitable support-ing means for the ends of said diaphragm permitting its elongation and contraction.

13. A device of the class described comprising an elastic tubular diaphragm, said i diaphragm composed of a plurality of thicknesses of resilient material, and means for supporting said diaphragm permitting its elongation and contraction from inner or outer pressure.

14. A device of the character described comprising an elastic impervious tubularl diaphragm, supporting coiled springs on the outer and inner sides of said diaphragm,

and end supports for said diaphragm and springs permitting the elongation and contraction of the same.

15. A device of the character described comprising a rubber tube, coil springs on the outer and inner sides of said rubber tube, and suitable supports attached to the ends of said coil springs and the rubbertubing per-i mitting the contraction and elongation of the same.

16. A device of the character described comprising an elastic tubular diaphragm, interior and exterior coil springs on thel outer and inner side of said tubular diaphragm, end supports attached to said tubular diaphragm and coil springs, and one of said end supports having an opening therethrough to permit interior pressure in saidl diaphragm.

17. A device of the character described comprising a resilient tubular diaphragm, supporting coil springs for said tubular diaphragm, end supports attached to said tubu. lar diaphragm and coil springs, one of said end supports having an opening therethrough to permit interior pressure in said mittingv elongation r'and contraction, a yoke att-ached to one of said supports by an adjusting screw, and coil springs connectmg said yoke tothe support at the opposite end of saidl diaphragml tojadjust its tensionby v said screw.

'19. A device ofv .the `charac-:tendescribed comprising an elasticftubular diaphragm,-

i supports for the ends'of-said tubular diaphragm permitting its contraction and elongatiolna yoke attached to one of said sup- 15' 'A 20. A device of the character described ports by an adjusting screw,y and springs attached to said yoke and to the support of the yopposite end of said diaphragm tofbe adjusted by said adjusting screw.

comprising a rubber tube,` supporting coil springs on the inner and'outer sides of said' `rubber tubepe'nd plugs for supporting said springs -and rubber, one of said end plugs having an opening therethrough, a rod eX tending through said opening in said end plug and attached to the other end plug to move said diaphragm, a yoke attached to the:` solid end plug by an adjusting screw, and springsvconnecting said yoke and .the support for the end plug, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

' In testimony whereof I have signed my `name to this specification lin the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

THOMAS'. M. wiLKrNs. Witnesses: i l

p VARTHUR V(I), MORSE,

H. U. HARRIS. 

